Routers

A Router is a device that is used to connect two or more networks. Routers have the capability to determine the best path to route data and locate alternative pathways so that the data reaches its destination.
A Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) router usually has four ports and the prices range from US$47.99- US$65.99

A cable router has four ports and as the name suggests, routes data which is sent between your home computer and your cable internet service provider (ISP) to where it needs to go. For example, if two computers are connected on your home network and one of them is used to access a particular file on the second computer, the cable router gets the information request from the first computer and routes it to the second computer. If the second computer is trying to view a web page, the cable router takes this request and forwards it to the cable Internet service provider. When the ISP sends the web page information back, the cable router then sends it to the second computer. The price range for the cable router is between US$35.75 - US$47.69
In a home network, the bus topology is used which consists of a network cable that forms a single bus to which every computer or peripheral device (example: printer) is attached.
Terminators may be needed as additional hardware as they are special connectors which are used to signify the end of a circuit.
My personal computer which is the Dell inspiron 531s has a router connected to it, along with a printer and a second computer. This allows me to be able to exchange data and view files which are available on the second computer using my personal computer.